Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-16
Conference of the NJ. E. Church South.

The Baltimore Annual Conference of the
Iethodist Episcopal Church South com
nenced it's one hundred and third session
asst Wednesday morning in the Methods,
Episcopal Church South, of which Rev.
Isaac W. Canter is pastor in Leesburg,
'.oudoun CO., Va. Seventy-five years have
lapsed since Methodist conference me,
nere, and the large number of persons in
be body Of the church and the galleries
bowed the interest taken in the session.
Fhe conferences was opened with prayer b,
Bishop John Christian Ksener, who presid
II, and the singing of the hymn "And Ar.
We Yet Alive"
Rev. DR.. John S. Martin, secretary 9th,
asst conference, called the roll of ministers.
Rev. DIR. Martin, who has been secretary
of the conference for thirty three years, was
reelected secretary, and he appointed as
his assistants James E. Armstrong, G. T.
Tyler, Asbury R. Martin and B w. Bond.
On motion Of Rev. Samuel Rodgers, the
secretary read the original minutes Of the
Baltimore Annual Conference, held in the
i'd stone church at Leesburg, March 20.
1879. The two bishops present at that con-
ference were Bishops Asbury and McKen-
dree, and the membership present was 81
persons. The conference then included all
Of Maryland, parts of Pennsylvania and
Virginia. and extended into Ohio. The
membership of the church in the Baltimore
Conference was q, 800 white, 1886 colered
The reading of the minutes caused som.
little amusement. Bishop Keener recalled
his impressions Of Bishop McKendree whei
ne was child. He said the Bishop gls
tened with neatness. He was dressed III
small clothes with bright buttons. Joshua
Wells, one of the members of that confer
ence, was man of perfect demeanor and
reverence. He was an excellent preacher
Fortunately, he married towards the end of
his life. Rev. Mr.. Waugh, the secretary,
afterwards was made bishop. These men
were led by the Spirit, for they did not
know whittier they were going. They have
never been surpassed in their power Of
preaching and of prayer. Robert r. Rob-
erts preached once sermon which con-
tanned main. heads accurately stated, and
the sermon made a great impression upon
me. The purity of speech indicated purity
Of thought. am sure we are gratified in
being in this glorious descent.
Bishop John G. Keener, who presided
over the conference, is a native of Balti-
more, and is about sixty-five years old. He
is man somewhat above the medium
height, and has a strongly marked counte-
nance. He was educated at the Wesleyan
University, Connecticut, and was for few
years in the drug business with his father,
Christian Keener, one of the best known
residents of Baltimore. Going South, he
entered the Methodist ministry, and held
several charges in Louisiana and Alabama.
He soon became prominent member of
the Louisiana Conftrence and was one of
the presiding elders. He was the author
of work, ''The Post Oak Circuit" which
created quite stir at the time of it's publ
cation. He was editor of areligious paper
at New Orleans, where he was elected to the
eriscopate in 1870. His homo is near New
Orleans. He is a man of great aud varied
information, and is til rcugly conversant
with the social, religious aud political con-
dltiou of the South. His powerful voice
and commanding presence, together with
his cool firnness, fit him admirably to be a
presiding officer, and he rules the confer
ence we'll.
OF the Rockingham district Rev. J. s.
Gardaer, Of Staunton, reported improve
ments upon one OF the churches: Rev. A.
M. Cackley, of Waynesboro, that new
church was building. Revival services were
held last year 10 the freight depot. The
church completed will cost from $500 to
81 600. Rev. l.. L. Lloyd, that the work
at Mines was entirely dependent upon tie
workers III the iron furnace, which has been
in operation Internationally during the past
three years.
Rev. J. c. Dice. presiding elder, said
that great revival interest had prevailed dur
ing the year, and 1,15S conversions had
teen reported. Class aud prayer meetings
are better attended than ever before. Three
churches were built and dedicated aud two
others are being erected. There are twenty
charges, seventeen parsonages, aud two
parsonages now being built. Sunday
schools have done very we'll. The finances
are moderately we'll up, but in some places
are deficiencies. At every quarterly cpn-
ference Harrisonburg Church pays up well
and has surplus. Certain brethren had
complained of the influence which distil-
leries had upon persons within their charges
Among these admitted into the conference
on trial was David Lodge Blakemore, of
Augusta county.